Tongue brush and scraper



Dec. 20, 1932. c. P. BARRETT TONGUE BRUSH AND SCRAPER Filed Oct. 14. 1931 L 1 l Ill I m I II HT 7 b I II 4 (mlz'w $477155? ATTORNEYS WIYN ESS:

Patented Dec. 20, 1 932 UNlTED STATES 'ATENT FFEUFZ TONGUE BRUSH AND SCRAPER Application filed October 14, 1931.

a device for this purpose in which the scra er ma T be used simultaneousl with the brush or th scraper and brush may be inclependently employed.

To the attainment of the foregoing the invention consists in the improvement hereinaitcr described and definitely claimed.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the improvement.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a side elevation illustrating a slight modification.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing a further modification.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the device disclosed by Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of another form of the improvement.

Figure 7 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the device illustrated by Figure 8, with parts in section.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a scraper disclosed by Figure 8.

As disclosed by the drawing the improve ment includes a handle 1 that is integrally formed at one of its ends with a widened portion that afiords a head 2. The handle and its head may be constructed of any desired material, the handle being of a size such as is usual in the construction of tooth brushes but the head and bristle carrying end being wider than that of a. tooth brush.

In the showing of Figures 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9 the bristles 3 are of the usual type, the same being in the nature of strong hairs or bristles and in the showing of Figures 1 and 2 there Serial No. 568,821.

is let in asuitable transverse slot or depression in the outer end of the head 2 one of the flanges of an angle plate 4. The angle plate has its outer flange extended rightangularly beyond the head 2 of the brush in an opposite direction from that provided with the bristles 3.

In use the brush is turned so that the flange 4 of the angle plate which provides the scraper blade is arranged over the tongue of the operator so that hardened substance thereon will be scraped or agitated to an extent that will permit of the ready removal thereof when the implement is inverted so that the bristles brush over the tongue.

In Figures 4 and 5 the head 3 has one of its ends provided with a reduced rightangularly disposed and downwardly extending flange '2' whose edge is sharpened and which affords a scraper blade. On the face of the head 3 from which the blade 7 extends there is secured either adhesively or by other means a body strip 8 from which projects a series of closely related longitudinal and transversely arranged rubber fingers 9. The elements 9 take the place of the bristles and in this instance the device is canted to permit of the scraper being moved over the tongue and thereafter to bring the fingers or bristles 9 against the tongue to clean the same.

In Figures 6 and 7 the head 10 on the handle 11 has its outer end formed with a flange 12 that afiords a scraper blade and the face of the head 10 from which the blade 12 is projected has adhesively or otherwise secured 35 thereto the inner flat face of a sponge rubber brush 13. It is to be noted that all of the brushes are concaved which materially facilitates the tongue cleaning operation. This is also true with respect to the bristles and the brush head disclosed by Figures 8 and 9.

In Figures 3, 8 and 9 the head of the brush from its outer point is formed on its upper face with a transverse depression whose inner end wall is cut at an angle as indicated by the numeral 17 in Figure 8. Below the depression the head 31 of the brush 82 is provided with a substantially rectangular pocket 18. The pocket has its open end communicating with the outer end of the brush head and has arranged therein, at the side and adjacent to the rear wall thereof pins 19. These pins are designed to be engaged by hooks 20 formed on spring arms 21 which have their outer ends connected to a plate 22 that is slidable in the pocket 18.

The outer end of the plate 22 is rolled upon itself to provide barrels that are in contact with other barrels carried by the lower ends of a scraper blade 23. The outer edge of the blade 23 is beveled as at 24 to provide a sharp scraping edge. A pivot pin or bolt 25 passes through the barrels 26 on the plate and on the blade 23 respectively, and around the pivot bolt or rod 25 there is wound coiled springs 27 having one of their ends prefer.- ably fixed to inner barrels 28 and 29 carried respectively by the plate 22 and the blade 23. Instead of connecting thesprings to the barrels 28 and 29 the inner or confronting ends thereof may rest upon the plate 22, the opposite or upper ends of thesaid springs 27 are'b'ent to engage with the inner face of the blade 23 and swing the blade away from and at a right angular position with respect to the plate 22. The barrel 29 is formed with a depending finger 30. WVhen the scraping blade is to be used the headed ends of the pivot bolt are grasped and both the plate 22 and blade 23 are withdrawn from the pocket 18. The plate is now reinserted inthe pocket so that the spring hooks 20 will engage with the spring arms 21, the blade 23 being held at a right angle with respect to the brush head and the said plate 22. The depending finger 30 will contact with the outer end of the brush head 31, directly opposite the point of contact with the blade 23 and the said outer end of the brush head. The blade is thus rigidly held for scraping operation. After such operation and after the cleaning of the blade, the blade will be folded upon the plate 22 and both of these elements are reinserted in the pocket 18 and held therein in a manner as heretofore described. The beveled and sharpened edge of the blade is designed to underlie the angular inner wall 17 provided by the pockets 18.

\Vhile I have illustrated satisfactory embodiments of my improved device my fe'a- V tures of invention are capable of extended amplification and I do not wish to be limited to the precise structure herein shown and described and, therefore, hold myself entitled to make such changes therefrom as fairly fall within the scope of what I claim. I

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. A device for the purpose set forth including a head for a tongue cleaning brush, a scraper blade associated with said head, means for holding the blade flush with the outer face of the head, said means permitting a slight movement of the blade outward of the head, spring means for influencing the blade to a right angle when so'moved, and a stop element carried by the blade to contact -by the hooks, a pivotally' supported spring influenced blade on the outer end of the head having a beveled end to be received in the transverse angle wall of the head when in inactive position and having a depending lug to contact with theend of the brush head when the plate is moved slightly out of its pocket sufficiently to bring the sharpened edge of the bladeaway from the angle wall of the head and thereafter again moved into the pocket to bring the hooks to engage with the pins.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature CORNELIUS P. BARRETT. 

